§ Motion made and Question proposed, That the Clause stand part of the Bill.
Sir E. EllingtonI notice that a rather wide definition has been used in subsection (1, e), which is to be added to Section 18 of the Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. Paragraph (e) (i) refers to "any proceedings other than actions." During the course of the Second Reading debate I asked a question about registrars, with a view to discovering whether it would not be possible for them to deal with very important and time-consuming judgment summonses.
I realised that commitment to prison was a responsibility which it might be difficult to remove entirely from the jurisdiction of the judge, but no undue complication arises in the case of judgment summonses, and I should have thought that the words to which I have referred might well include such judgment summonses. If that is so it will be an excellent arrangement, because it will enable a judge to get through the other work which the Bill imposes upon him.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe words "any proceedings," as my hon. Friend indicates, are of a very general and wide description. This Clause merely provides enabling powers to make rules, and I am quite sure that my hon. Friend's suggestion will be fully considered by those upon whom the responsibility rests for making rules in relation to these matters.
§ Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.